Personalization vending kiosk

ABSTRACT

Kiosk systems are used for personalizing articles. The articles may include an item to be personalized assembled with components of packaging in a pre-hooped configuration. The system may include a housing and a personalization system within the housing. The personalization system may include a plurality of system components for personalizing the article. The system may also include a conveying system within the housing. The conveying system may be used to transfer the article in the pre-hooped configuration between the system components of the personalization systems. The system may also include a control system in the housing and/or remote from the housing. The control system may receive a personalization order and in response the control system may control the system components of the personalization systems and the conveying system so that the article is personalized without human intervention once within the housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 63/111,591,filed Nov. 9, 2020, titled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PACKAGING ARTICLESTO BE EMBROIDERED”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present technology relates to the field of personalized articles,for example, clothing items, and more particularly to systems andmethods for personalizing articles.

BACKGROUND

Personalization of garments and accessories is becoming more popularthrough embroidery and direct to garment (DTG) printing. Personalizationof garments is currently a labor-intensive process that requires largeareas for the machines to be placed so that skilled operators can workaround the machines in order to handle the garments and operate themachines. There is a desire for personalization to be on-demand and insmall volume so that, for example, a customer can order a personalizedgarment and in a matter of minutes after placing the order receive thepersonalized garment. Large scale operations are disadvantageous foron-demand personalization due to the high costs of the high-volumemachinery, the space, and the skilled labor. Accordingly, there is aneed for on-demand personalization equipment requiring little to nolabor, having a small footprint, and capable of small volume orders.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The disclosed technology related to kiosk systems for personalizingarticles. The articles may include an item to be personalized assembledwith components of packaging in a pre-hooped configuration. The systemmay include a housing and a personalization system within the housing.The personalization system may include a plurality of system componentsfor personalizing the article. The system may also include a conveyingsystem within the housing. The conveying system may be used to transferthe article in the pre-hooped configuration between the systemcomponents of the personalization systems. The system may also include acontrol system in the housing and/or remote from the housing. Thecontrol system may receive a personalization order and in response thecontrol system may control the system components of the personalizationsystems and the conveying system so that the article is personalizedwithout human intervention once within the housing.

In some embodiments, the housing may include a window for receiving thearticle prior to personalization. In some embodiments, the housing maydefine a small footprint to in order to be placed inside a retail storeor corridor of a retail center, for example the footprint may be lessthan 100 square feet, and may be less than 50 square feet.

In some embodiments, the personalization system includes at least one ofan embroidery system or a direct to garment printing system (DTGsystem), and may include both. In some embodiments, the embroiderysystem includes an embroidery machine for embroidering the article inthe pre-hooped configuration based on the personalization order.

In some embodiments, the conveying system includes a jig. The jig mayinclude a plurality of wire elements and a bottom hooping plate coupledto the wire elements. The jig may be pivotable between a substantiallyvertical loading configuration and a substantially horizontal hoopingconfiguration. The jig may receive the article around the jig in theloading configuration. The control system may cause the conveying systemto transfer the jig to the hooping system and pivot the jig from theloading configuration to the hooping configuration to be hooped, and thehooping system may hoop the article by coupling a top hooping plate tothe bottom hooping plate with the article clamped between. Theembroidery system may include an upper head and a lower cylinder head.The lower cylinder head may be positionable within the jig to embroiderthe article from a bottom side, and the lower cylinder head may pivotwithin the jig in order to embroider a portion of the article based onthe personalization order. The jig may include a plurality of jointscoupled between wire elements. The joints of the jig may be expandablejoints and allow the wire elements to telescope within the joints inorder to change a size of the jig. The control system may cause theconveying system to adjust the size of the jig prior to the jigreceiving the article based on the personalization order.

In some embodiments the conveying system includes one or more of: arobotic arm, a conveyor belt, a tracked vehicle, a trackless vehicle, ajig, and a platen. The conveying system may include a plurality ofself-powered trackless vehicles, wirelessly controlled by the controlsystem. The control system may instruct the trackless vehicles totransfer the article between the plurality of system components.

In some embodiments, the conveying system includes a robotic arm. Therobotic arm may include grippers. The control system may cause therobotic arm to transfer the article from a storage area with thegrippers onto trackless vehicles. The robotic arm may further include anelectromagnetic gripper. The electromagnetic gripper may hold a hoopingplate, and the robotic arm may hoop the article with the hooping plate.

In some embodiments, the DTG system include a pretreatment system forapplying pretreatment solution to the article and a direct to garmentprinter for printing a personalization onto the article based on thepersonalization order. The conveying system may transfer the articlewith the pretreatment solution applied from the pretreatment system tothe direct to garment printer. In some embodiments, the DTG systemincludes a drying system for drying the article. The conveying systemmay transfer the article from the pretreatment system or the direct togarment printer to the drying system.

In some embodiments, the pretreatment system may apply the pretreatmentsolution to a sub-portion of the article based on a personalization sizeand location indicated in the personalization order. The pretreatmentsystem may include a plurality of dispensing heads each able toseparately dispense the pretreatment solution. The plurality ofdispensing heads may be arranged along a first direction, and thecontrol system may move the article relative to the plurality ofdispensing heads in a second direction perpendicular to the firstdirection. The control system may cause dispensing of the pretreatmentsolution from any combination of one or more of the plurality ofdispensing heads while causing the conveying system to move the articlerelative to the plurality of dispensing heads in order to apply thepretreatment solution to the sub-portion of the article based on thepersonalization order. The plurality of dispensing heads may dispensethe pretreatment solution less than 10 mm from the article. Thepretreatment system may include a scraper coupled to the plurality ofdispensing heads and which may be actuated by the control system tocontact the article and spread the applied pretreatment solution.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be readily understood by the following detaileddescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which:

FIG. 1A shows a kiosk according to embodiments of the presenttechnology.

FIG. 1B shows a storage area of a retail store with an article to beused with a kiosk according to embodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 1C shows a kiosk according to embodiments of the presenttechnology.

FIG. 2 shows internal system components of a kiosk according toembodiments of the present technology.

FIGS. 3A-3D show the internal system components of a kiosk and acorresponding process step of the system components according toembodiments of the present technology.

FIGS. 4A-4D show a jig of a kiosk according to embodiments of thepresent technology.

FIGS. 5A-5C show the use of a jig of a kiosk for embroidery according toembodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 6 shows a kiosk according to embodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 7 shows a kiosk according to embodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 8 shows internal system components of a kiosk according toembodiments of the present technology.

FIGS. 9A-9D show internal system components of a kiosk including arobotic arm and gripper according to embodiments of the presenttechnology.

FIGS. 10A-10D show internal system components of a kiosk including apretreatment machine according to embodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 11 shows internal system components of a kiosk including apretreatment machine according to embodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 12 shows a schematic of a control system of a kiosk according toembodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of process steps of a kiosk according toembodiments of the present technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present technology includes systems and methods related to kiosksfor storage, inventory management, retrieval, packaging, and/orpersonalization of articles, for example clothing articles. A kiosk mayinclude one or more system components for one or more of:storage/inventory/product retrieval, packaging, and personalization,inside of a housing of the kiosk. The kiosk may include a control systemcoupled to actuators in to order be fully and/or partially automated sothat in response to receiving a user input, the control system causesthe actuators to perform one or more steps related to storage, inventorymanagement, retrieval, packaging, and/or personalization of articles.

As used herein, the term “user” may refer to one or more humans beingclassified as one or more of: a skilled machine operator, an unskilledmachine operator, a retail store clerk, and/or a retail customer. Inembodiments, the steps disclosed herein relating to kiosks may beperformed by any combination of one or more users and one or moreautomated systems coupled to a control system.

As used herein, the term “article”, may refer to one or more itemsincluding, but not limited to, a piece of clothing (e.g. shirts, pants,socks, shoes, shorts, coats, jackets, skirts, dresses, underwear, hats,headbands, etc.), accessories (e.g. wallet, purse, etc.), and homewares(e.g. towels, pillow cases, blankets, mats, etc.). In embodiments, theterm “article” may refer to the item in combination with a packaging,portion of a packaging, and/or a personalization support (e.g. a hoopingassembly). In embodiments, the articles may be packaged as pre-hoopedretail boxes that are ready to be personalized without any manualintervention. For example, in embodiments, an item may be: a shirtpre-hooped within a box, a shirt not pre-hooped within a box containinga bottom hooping portion, a shirt on a platen, a shirt in a closed box,a shirt in an open box, a shirt in a bag, etc. As shown in some of thefigures, the article is shown as a T-shirt. However, a T-shirt is anon-limiting example of an article or a portion thereof, and any of thesystem components disclosed herein may be used with any type of article.

In embodiments, a kiosk may include: a housing, in which one more systemcomponents for storage, inventory management, retrieval, packaging,and/or personalization of articles are positioned within.

Housing

The housing of a kiosk may include internal support structures coupledto the system components, and an outer envelope. In embodiments, theouter envelope may be opaque in order to prevent outside viewers fromobserving some or all of the internal components, and/or to protectlight sensitive processes from outside light. In embodiments, the outerenvelope may be partially or completely made of a transparent materialin order to allow outside observers to see the automated processesperformed by one or more system components, for example personalizationoperations which may be a point of attraction for customers.

In embodiments, the outer envelope may define openings and/or doors toallow for the system components to receive articles from outside thekiosk, to deliver articles to the outside of the kiosk for pickup by auser from the inside of the kiosk, and/or to allow maintenance of thehousing or system components. For example, in embodiments, a kiosk maydefine a single window corresponding to both an article receiving windowand a pick up window. In embodiments, a kiosk may include one or morereceiving windows and one or more separate pick-up windows.

In embodiments, the housing of a kiosk may have a footprint sized to fitinto a small portion of a store, or in the middle of a walkway in amall. For example, the footprint may be less than 50 sq. ft. Further forexample, the height may be less than 10 feet.

System Components

A kiosk system may include one or more systems, each comprising one ormore system components to perform processes related to: inventorymanagement, retrieval, packaging, and/or personalization of articles.The number and size of system components may be based on the desiredfunctions of a kiosk and the available footprint available for a kiosk.The system components may be arranged relative to each other verticallyand/or horizontally. As will be discussed in greater detail below, aconveying system may transfer an article between system components withany relative orientation/position.

The system components may be components of one or more ofpersonalization systems, conveying systems, and/or storage systems.

Personalization Systems

In embodiments, the personalization systems include one or more systemcomponents for receiving an un-personalized article and outputting afinished personalized article ready for the consumer. In embodiments,the personalization system may include, but is not limited to,embroidery systems, and/or direct to garment printing systems (DTGsystems). In embodiments, personalization systems may include duplicatesystem components as discussed below in order to increase throughput.

Embroidery System

In embodiments, the system components of a kiosk may include one or morecomponents forming an embroidery system. An embroidery system mayinclude one or more hooping systems for hooping an article to beembroidered, and embroidery machines for embroidering an article to beembroidered. The control system of a kiosk may be connected to one ormore, including all, of the components of an embroidery system inaddition to a conveying system in order to automate processes of anembroidery system. For example, a control system may cause the conveyingsystem to transfer an article from a receiving window of the kiosk to ahooping system, may cause the hooping system to apply a hoop to thearticle, may cause the conveying system to transfer the article from thehooping system to the embroidery machine, may cause the embroiderymachine to embroider the article, and may cause the conveying system totransfer the article from the embroidery machine to a pick-up window, aswill be discussed in greater detail below.

In some embodiments, a control system may select a backing for anembroidery process based on criteria of a personalization order,including for example the article material weight, the personalizationart design, and the number of stitches per inch required for the design.In some embodiments, the number of combinations of article fabric, artdesign and backing material may be limited to a predetermined value, forexample 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, in order to allow a reasonableinventory of components stored by the kiosk. The control system maycause the conveying system to transfer a backing from a storage areawithin the kiosk to a location within the kiosk, for example a hoopingsystem, where in the backing is affixed, for example adhered to thearticle.

In some embodiments, the kiosk includes an inventory of pre-assembledhoop plate assemblies each including a bottom hoop plate attached to ahooping pad and a backing material. Each combination of hoop plate,hooping pad and backing material may correspond to one or more customerpersonalization options based on the article fabric weight, thepersonalization art design, and the number of stitches per inch requiredfor the design. In some embodiments, in response to receiving apersonalization order, the control system may determine the appropriatepre-assembled hoop plate assembly based on the article fabric weight,the personalization art design and the number of stitches per inchrequired for the design. With a pre-assembled hoop plate assemblydetermined, the control system may cause the conveying system totransfer and place the appropriate pre-assembled hoop plate assembly onan unloaded jig. With the appropriate pre-assembled hoop plate assemblycoupled to the jig, the jig is ready to be dressed by the article, andthen receive the top hooping plate and undergo the embroiderypersonalization operation.

In some embodiments, the kiosk includes a first inventory ofpre-assembled hoop plate assemblies each including a bottom hoop plateattached to a hooping pad and a second assembly of different backingmaterials, including for example different sizes, shapes andthicknesses. The different backing materials may correspond to one ormore customer personalization options based on the article fabricweight, the personalization art design, and the number of stitches perinch required for the design. In some embodiments, in response toreceiving a personalization order, the control system may determine theappropriate backing based on the article fabric weight, thepersonalization art design and the number of stitches per inch requiredfor the design. With a backing determined, the control system may causethe conveying system to transfer and place the appropriate backing to apre-assembled hoop plate and padding assembly. In some embodiments, thebacking material includes adhesive on its back face with a protectivecover. Once an appropriate backing material is selected, the protectivematerial may be peeled off by the conveying system and the backingmaterial may be attached via its adhesive covered face to the bottomhooping plate and hooping pad.

In some embodiments, the kiosk control system communicates the status ofits inventory of pre-assembled hoop plate assemblies when the inventoris low or out of a particular combination of pre-assemblies. In someembodiments, the kiosk has an inventory of retail boxes that package thearticles in attractive presentation or packaging retail boxes, and thathave a variety of pre-assembled hooping bottom plate, hooping pad andbacking material, ready to receive articles for personalization, andhooping top plate, all pre-assembled and ready for the embroiderypersonalization operation. In embodiments including pre-assembled retailboxes, each pre-assembled retail box combination may be appropriate forone or more types of personalization orders received by a customer.

Direct to Garment Printing (DTG) Systems

In embodiments, the system components of a kiosk may include one or morecomponents forming a DTG system. A DTG system may include one or morepretreatment systems for applying a pretreatment solution to an articleto be personalized with DTG, a DTG printer for printing apersonalization on an article to be personalized, and a drying system.In some embodiments, the DTG system may include drying systemsintegrated into other system components, e.g. a pretreatment system withan integrated drying system. The control system of a kiosk may beconnected to one or more, including all, of the components of a DTGsystem in addition to a conveying system in order to automate processesof a DTG system. For example, a control system may cause the conveyingsystem to transfer an article from a receiving window of the kiosk to apretreatment system, may cause the pretreatment system to apply apretreatment solution to the article, may cause the conveying system totransfer the article from the pretreatment system to the DTG printer,may cause the DTG printer to print a personalization on the article, maycause the conveying system to transfer the article from the DTG printerto a drying system, may cause the dryer system to dry the article withthe DTG printed personalization and may cause the conveying system totransfer the article from the drying system to a pick-up window as willbe discussed in greater detail below. In some embodiments, the controlsystem may cause the conveying system to transfer an article to a dryingsystem after a pretreatment process and/or a DTG printing process.

In embodiments, the DTG system may operate as a WET-ON-WET DTG printingprocess and therefore after applying the pretreatment solution, the DTGprinting operation may be initiated without first drying the article. Inembodiments, after the pre-treatment solution is applied by thepretreatment system, the article conveying system may transfer thearticle to the drying system before the DTG printing operation isperformed. The system components of a DTG system may be arranged in anyphysical orientation relative to each other and the conveying system maytransfer an article between the stages during a DTG process, includingtransferring an article to the same component twice at different stagesof a process.

In embodiments, after the DTG printing stage, the next stage may be thedrying stage. In embodiments, the drying system may perform drying of anarticle by applying a pressure and temperature using a heat plate. Inembodiments, the drying of the ink and pretreatment solution may beaccomplished by direct application of a radiant heat source, convectionheat via forced air, and/or applying radiation from a light source, e.g.an LED light source.

In embodiments, one or more, including all, of the system components ofa DTG system may be fully sealed and/or vented to the outside in orderto prevent spreading undesirable chemicals and vapors within the kioskenclosure and/or to the immediate vicinity outside of the kiosk.

Conveying Systems

As noted above, a kiosk may include a conveying system within thehousing for transferring articles to/from/between the windows and systemcomponents. The conveying system may further be configured formanipulating system components, articles, and portions thereof withinthe kiosk. For example, the conveying system may unpack an item from abox, may package an item into a box, may place an item from a stack onlya platen, or may hoop an item. Additional non-limiting examples ofactions performed by the conveying system are discussed in greaterdetail below.

The conveying system may include a combination of one or more of:robotic arms, actuators, grippers, platens, jigs, conveyor belts(horizontal, vertical, curved and/or angled), railed vehicles, tracklessvehicles, and similar conveying means.

The conveying system is connected to the control system and may becaused to transfer an article based on user input. For example, inresponse to receiving user input of a personalization order, the controlsystem may determine instructions for the conveying system fortransferring an article to/from system components, as will be discussedin greater detail below.

Control Systems

The system components of a kiosk, for example as discussed above, may beconnected to a control system. The control system may comprise one ormore processors. The one or more processors may be within the kioskand/or may be remote. Remote processors may be included as part ofremote computers, point of sale (POS) systems, servers (including cloudservers), and/or user devices (e.g. smartphones and tablets).

In embodiments, a control system 1200 includes various componentsincluding one or more of ordering systems 1212, design systems 1211,production planning systems 1210, user interface devices 1202,manufacturing systems and control signal processors 1203, for example asshown in FIG. 12. In embodiments, a control system may include amanufacturing control module 1207 including one or more processors 1201coupled to memory modules 1213 and one or more communication interfaces1208 to provide means for communicating with system components of thekiosk including optical sensors and/or cameras 1204, motion sensors1205, temperature sensors 1206, smoke and aerosol pollutant sensors, andpressure sensors 1206. In embodiments, various other types of sensorsmay provide relevant environmental parameters such as the level ofmoisture present in the kiosk, viscosity of process fluids (e.g.pretreatment solution, DTG ink, etc.). Additionally, the control systemmay include one or more power sub-systems and power backup systems sothat a kiosk may operate during power outages or inconsistencies.

The control system may be implemented at least partially in one or morecomputers, embedded systems, terminals, control stations, handhelddevices, modules, any other suitable interface devices, or anycombination thereof. In embodiments, the components of a control systemmay be communicatively coupled via one or more communications buses.

The one or more processors may include one or more processing units(e.g., a central processing unit), cache, random access memory (RAM),read only memory (ROM), any other suitable components, or anycombination thereof that may process information regarding the kioskvending system. Memory may include any suitable volatile or non-volatilememory that may include, for example, random access memory (RAM), readonly memory (ROM), flash memory, a hard disk, any other suitable memory,or any combination thereof. Information stored in memory may beaccessible by processing equipment via communications bus. For example,computer readable program instructions (e.g., for implementing thetechniques disclosed herein) stored in memory may be accessed andexecuted by processing equipment. In embodiments, memory includes anon-transitory computer readable medium for storing computer executableinstructions that cause processing equipment (e.g., processing equipmentof a suitable computing system), to carry out a method for controllingthe kiosk vending systems and processes. For example, memory may includecomputer executable instructions for implementing any of the controltechniques described herein.

In embodiments, communications interface includes a wired connection(e.g., using IEEE 802.3 Ethernet, or universal serial bus interfaceprotocols), wireless coupling (e.g., using IEEE 802.11 “Wi-Fi,”Bluetooth, or via cellular network), optical coupling, inductivecoupling, any other suitable coupling, or any combination thereof, forcommunicating with one or more systems external to process controlmodules. For example, communications interface may include a USB portconfigured to accept a flash memory drive. In a further example,communications interface may include an Ethernet port configured toallow communication with one or more devices, networks, or both. In afurther example, communications interface may include a transceiverconfigured to communicate using 4G or 5G standards over a cellularnetwork.

In embodiments, the user interface includes a wired connection (e.g.,using IEEE 802.3 Ethernet, or universal serial bus interface,tip-ring-seal RCA type connection), wireless coupling (e.g., using IEEE802.11 “Wi-Fi,” Infrared, Bluetooth, or via cellular network), opticalcoupling, inductive coupling, any other suitable coupling, or anycombination thereof, for communicating with one or more of userinterface devices. User interface devices may include a display,keyboard, mouse, audio device, any other suitable user interfacedevices, or any combination thereof. For example, a display may includea display screen such as, for example, a cathode ray tube screen, aliquid crystal display screen, a light emitting diode display screen, aplasma display screen, any other suitable display screen that mayprovide graphics, text, images or other visuals to a user, or anycombination of screens thereof. Further, a display may include atouchscreen, which may provide tactile interaction with a user by, forexample, offering one or more soft commands on a display screen. In afurther example, user interface devices may include a keyboard such as aQWERTY keyboard, a numeric keypad, any other suitable collection of hardcommand buttons, or any combination thereof. In a further example, userinterface devices may include a mouse or any other suitable pointingdevice that may control a cursor or icon on a graphical user interfacedisplayed on a display screen. In a further example, user interfacedevices may include an audio device such as a microphone, a speaker,headphones, any other suitable device for providing and/or receivingaudio signals, or any combination thereof. In embodiments, a userinterface need not be included (e.g., control module need not receiveuser input nor provide output to a user).

In embodiments, a sensor interface may be used to supply power tovarious sensors, a signal conditioner, a signal pre-processor or anyother suitable components, or any combination thereof. For example, asensor interface may include one or more filters (e.g., analog and/ordigital), an amplifier, a sampler, and an analog to digital converterfor conditioning and pre-processing signals from sensors. Inembodiments, the sensor interface communicates with sensor(s) viacommunicative coupling which may be a wired connection (e.g., using IEEE802.3 Ethernet, or universal serial bus interface), wireless coupling(e.g., using IEEE 802.11 “Wi-Fi,” or Bluetooth), optical coupling,inductive coupling, any other suitable coupling, or any combinationthereof.

Sensors may include any suitable type of sensor, which may be configuredto sense any suitable property or aspect of system components in a kioskand processes, any other system, or any combination thereof. Inembodiments, sensors include linear encoders, rotary encoders, or both,may be used by the control system to sense relative positions, speed,temperature, pressure, etc. In embodiments, sensors include varioustypes of optical sensors including cameras configured to capture images(e.g., time-lapse imaging) of various aspects of the operation of theautomated garment manufacturing systems and processes. In embodiments,temperature and pressure sensors include one or more temperature sensorssuch as, for example, a thermocouple, a thermistor, a resistancetemperature detector (RTD), any other suitable sensor for detectingtemperature, or any combination thereof. For example, sensors mayinclude a thermocouple arranged to measure the temperature and/orviscosity of liquid adhesive to be applied to the webs.

Personalization Order

A control system may receive a personalization order from one or more ofany of the user input devices noted above, including by not limited to,a user interface coupled to the housing of the kiosk, a smart device,and/or a remote computer. In some embodiments, the personalization ordermay be received at a user input device remote from the kiosk, and thepersonalization order may be sent to a portion of the control systemwithout the kiosk. For example, a personalization order may be receivedat a remote POS system, and sent to a portion of the control systemwithin the kiosk. In some embodiments, a remote user interface inresponse to user input may generate a physical or electronic receipt,for example a bar code or a QR code, corresponding to a personalizationorder, and the kiosk may include a user input for scanning the receiptin order to confirm the order, confirm payment for the order, and/orscan for verification prior to delivery of the personalized article.

The personalization order may include one or more of: the type ofarticle(s), number of items, size(s), color(s), material(s),personalization type(s), personalization design(s), personalizationlocation(s) and/or packaging(s). In embodiments, to order a personalizeditem, a user may be shown a GUI on a screen allowing the user to inputcriteria of the personalization order. For example, a user may input tothe GUI: t-shirt, medium, white, 100% cotton, embroidery, yellow starshape design, center of shirt, boxed. In response to receiving the userinput the control system would cause the conveying system and systemcomponents to perform the processes to complete the personalizationorder. In embodiments, the conveying system may retrieve the article ofthe personalization order from an automated storage and retrieval system(ASRS), which may be part of the personalization kiosk or part ofanother kiosk, and/or a user may physically transfer a selected articleto a window of the kiosk to perform the personalization.

Example Embodiments Shown in the Figures

FIGS. 1A-1C show embodiments of kiosks and retail store storage. Forexample, FIG. 1A shows a storage kiosk 100-1. The storage kiosk maycomprise a window 102 into the housing. In response to receiving apersonalization order, a control system may cause a conveying system totransfer an article 1 from within the storage kiosk 100-1 to the windowfor a user to receive. FIG. 1B shows a retail display and/or storagearea 2 displaying and/or storing a plurality of articles which a usermay select for personalization. FIG. 1C shows a personalization kiosk100-2. The personalization kiosk 100-2 comprises a window 102. A usermay place an article 1, for example from a storage kiosk 100-2 or aretail storage area 2, within the window 102 and a conveying system ofthe personalization kiosk 100-2 may transfer the article within thekiosk to be personalized according to the personalization order.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of system components 200, including aconveying system, within a personalization kiosk 100. As shown, thesystem components may include an embroidery system 202 and a DTG system204. The control system may cause the conveying system 206 to transferan article 1 through the embroidery system 202 and/or the DTG system 204based on the personalization order. As shown, the conveying system 206may include a conveyor belt to transfer and article 1 under one or morethe system components.

In some embodiments, the article 1 may include any of the packagingshown in FIGS. 1A-14B and described in the disclosure of U.S.Application No. 63/111,591. For example, packaging may include one ormore of an internal box portion, a top box portion, and a bottom boxportion, the combination of which may be referred to as a retail box. Insome embodiments, the article 1 received within the kiosk may include anitem, e.g. a T-shirt, positioned around an internal box portion, or thearticle 1 received within the kiosk may include an item, e.g. a T-shirt,positioned around an internal box portion, positioned within a bottombox portion. An article in a configuration without the top box portionengaging with another box portion to clamp the item to be embroideredmay be referred to as an article in an un-hooped configuration. Anarticle in an un-hooped configuration may have a top hooping portionand/or a top box portion applied by a hooping system in order to holdthe portion of the item to be embroidered taut within an embroiderywindow of the packaging. In some embodiments, the article 1 receivedwithin the kiosk may include an item, e.g. a T-shirt, positioned aroundan internal box portion, positioned within a bottom box portion, with atop box portion clamping the item to be embroidered within thepackaging, and may be referred to as an article in a pre-hoopedconfiguration. In some embodiments, the kiosk includes an inventory ofretail boxes that package the articles in attractive presentation orpackaging retail boxes, and that have a variety of pre-assembled hoopingbottom plate, hooping pad and backing material, article ready forpersonalization, and hooping top plate, all pre-assembled and ready forthe embroidery personalization operation. In embodiments includingpre-assembled retail box combinations, each pre-assembled retail boxcombination may be appropriate for one or more types of personalizationorders received by a customer.

As shown in FIG. 2, and noted above, an embroidery system 202 within akiosk 100 may include a hooping system 208. In embodiments, for exampleas shown, an article 1 in an un-hooping configuration including an itemto be embroidered and a portion of packaging may be received within akiosk 100, for example by a user placing the article within thereceiving window or the conveying system retrieving the article from astorage area of the kiosk, or another kiosk. As shown, the portion ofpackaging 211 may be an internal box portion and/or a bottom portion ofa retail box containing the item 212 to be embroidered without a hooplid 214, also referred to as a top box portion, hooping the item 212.Storing the article in an un-hooped configuration may be beneficial tothe item as it avoids forming an unwanted hoop burn on the item to beembroidered. As shown in FIG. 2, the conveyor system 206 includes aconveyer belt which moves the un-hooped item to the hooping system 208in order to be hooped. As shown, the hooping system 208 may hoop theitem of the article 1 by pressing a hooping lid 214 into the portion ofpackaging 211 of the article so that the item 212 is taut in theembroidery window and ready for embroidery. In embodiments, the articlemay in the pre-hooped configuration and the conveying system may bypassthe hooping system in response to the control system determining thearticle is pre-hooped, or the kiosk may be configured to only embroiderpre-hooped items and not include a hooping system.

Further as shown in FIG. 2, the conveying system 206 may move the hoopedarticle 1 under the embroidery machine 210. In embodiments, the controlsystem actuates dynamic adaptors 216 grab the pre-hooped article 1 andsecure it under the embroidery machine 210 and initiates embroideryoperations. After the article 1 is embroidered, the control system maycause the conveyor system 206 to transfer the article 1 to anotherpersonalization system or to a window for pickup. Additionally, afterthe article 1 is embroidered, the control system may cause the conveyorsystem 206 to manipulate the article to be customer ready according tothe personalization order, for example remove a hoop, place a lid on thepackaging of the article, fold the article and/or wrap the article.

As shown in FIG. 2, and noted above, a DTG system 204 within a kiosk 100may include a pretreatment system 218, a DTG printer 220, and a dryer222. In embodiments, any of the DTG system components may include adryer, for example the pretreatment system 218, and/or the controlsystem may cause the conveying system to transfer an item to a dryingsystem after any process step. In embodiments, for example as shown, anarticle 1 including an item to be personalized by DTG printing and aportion of packaging may be received within a kiosk 100, for example bya user placing the article within the receiving window or the conveyingsystem retrieving the article from a storage area of the kiosk, oranother kiosk. As shown, the portion of packaging 211 may be a bottomportion of a retail box containing the item 212 to be DTG personalized.The article 1 may be transferred by the conveying system 206 througheach DTG system component.

Jig Embodiment

In embodiments, the conveying system may include a jig for receiving anarticle to be personalized. The jig may define a body over which anarticle is placed, for example by a user or by a robotic arm. Thearticle may be transferred between windows and system components whilepositioned over the jig. In some embodiments, the jig comprisescomponents for hooping an item to be personalized. In some embodiment,the jig may comprise a body on or over which an article is placed.

In some embodiments, the jig may comprise a hollow body, which may be awire frame body. The hollow cavity of the jig may be used for receivinga portion of a system component, for example a part of the hoopingsystem or embroidery machine. The jig may further define receivingopenings for receiving hooping plates used for retaining a hoopedportions of an article to the jig.

Personalization systems may include structures and configurations forpersonalizing an article positioned on a jig. For example, as will bediscussed in greater detail below, an embroidering system may include ahooping system for hooping an article on a jig, and an embroideringmachine may include heads to be received within the jig.

FIGS. 3A-3D show an embroidery system including a jig 302. Inembodiments, the jig 302 may also be used with other personalizationsystems, for example DTG systems. As shown the system includes apivotable jig 302 on a track 304. The track 304 may be part of aconveying system 206. The jig system includes electromagnetic or activeactuators 306, and/or passive components such as constant force springsor hydraulic springs, as shown in FIGS. 4A-4C for pivoting the jig 302between a horizontal or near horizontal position, and a vertical or nearvertical position, and any position in between. The jig system furtherincludes actuators for translating the jig along the tracks, for examplewith cog wheels 308.

In embodiments, the control system may cause a jig 302 to be positionedin a loading configuration, for example as shown in FIG. 3A. In theloading configuration, the jig 302 may be vertical, or near vertical(i.e. within 15 degrees of vertical). In the loading configuration thejig 302 may be positioned near or outside of a window of the kiosk 100so that a user can position an item, for example a t-shirt 310, over thejig 302, as shown in the transition between FIGS. 3A and 3B. Inembodiments, the jig 302 may be shaped to receive various types ofitems, for example dresses, skirts, pants, shorts, gloves, mittens, etc.

With an article, in this example the T-shirt 310, positioned over thejig 302, the jig 302 may be transitioned to a hooping configuration. Inthe hooping configuration, the jig 302 may be pivoted to be horizontalor near horizontal (e.g within 15 degrees of horizontal), for example asshown in FIG. 3C. In the hooping configuration a hooping system 208 mayhoop an article, in this example a T-shirt 310, to the jig 302, as shownin FIG. 3C.

In embodiments, jigs 302 may include hooping bottom plates 312 coupledto the jig 302. The bottom hooping plate 312 may be coupled to a tophooping plate 314 with the item, in this example the T-shirt 310,clamped between. FIG. 4A shows an example of a jig 302 including abottom hooping plate 312. In embodiments, the bottom hooping plate 312is coupled with clips 316 to a wire frame of the jig 302. In someembodiments, clips 316 of the bottom hooping plate 312 may provide adegree of flexibility and snap into and out of place by the applicationof some force. In embodiments, for example as shown in FIG. 4A, the wireframe may define a plurality of positions 318 which a bottom hoopingplate 312 may be coupled. The control system may cause the conveyorsystem to couple a bottom hooping plate 312 to the jig 302 according tothe personalization order designated personalization location prior topositioning the jig 302 in the loading configuration. As shown in FIG.4A, a hooping pad 320 and embroidery backing 322 may be coupled to thehooping bottom plate 312 prior to placing the jig 302 in the loadingconfiguration. The control system may cause the conveying system tocouple one of a plurality of types of backing 322 to the hooping bottomplate 312 based on the personalization order. FIG. 5B shows thearrangement of the bottom hooping plate 312, hooping pad 320, backing322, T-shirt 310, and hooping top place 314.

In embodiments, the wire frame of the jig 302 may be adjustable in sizein order for the same jig to accommodate multiple different sizes ofitems, for example small (s), medium (m), and large (1) large t-shirts.Joints 324 between wire elements 326 of the wire body of the jig 302 mayinclude expanding joints allowing the wire elements 326 to telescope tovarious positions within the joints. As shown in FIG. 4D, the ends 328of each wire element 326 within an expandable joint 324 may include anenlarged end for engaging with ridges 330 in the joint 324 so that thejoint will allow multiple different positions of the wire elements to beset. In embodiments, the control system may cause the conveying systemto manipulate the wire frame, for example with robotic arms incombination with cameras and/or position sensors, to adjust the size ofthe jig 302 prior to presenting it to a user in the loadingconfiguration based on the size of the article indicated in thepersonalization order. In embodiments, a user may be instructed by theuser interface to adjust the size of the jig in the loading positionprior to placing the article, in this example a T-shirt 310, over thejig 302.

With an item hooped on the jig 302, the control system may cause theitem on the jig to be transferred to an embroidery machine 210, as shownin FIG. 3D. The embroidery machine may include a lower cylinder head 332and an upper head 334. The lower cylinder head 332 may dispense lowerthread for the embroidery and the upper head 334 may dispense upperthread as shown in FIG. 5C. The lower cylinder head 332 may be pivotablerelative to the jig 302, for example as shown in FIG. 5A. Pivoting thelower cylinder head 332 allows various portions of the article, in thisexample T-shirt 310, to be embroidered. For example, as shown, thepivotable lower cylinder head 332 allows six distinct embroidery windowsof the T-shirt 310 to be embroidered. In embodiments, a jig 302 may haveany number of embroidery windows, and corresponding bottom hoopingplates 312 coupled to the jig 302 at the embroidery windows. In someembodiments, the lower cylinder head 332 and the upper head 334 may bealigned using a camera and using artificial vision software or positionsensors to align the lower cylinder head 332 and upper head 334. In someembodiments, the embroidery system may use one or a select number ofembroidery threads with a given thickness. In some embodiments, theembroidery thread is in one color (e.g., white) and the thread iscolored in-situ prior to the embroidery application per the requirementsof the personalization art design. In some embodiments, the selectionsof article fabric weights and thicknesses, art designs, backing materialtypes and thicknesses, the thread types and thicknesses, and theembroidery needle types and thicknesses are pre-matched and limit thenumber of possible user choices, in order to allow for a compact andefficient kiosk design, simplified operation, and the total or partialelimination of manual and/or skilled labor. In some embodiments, acorrespondence table includes all the possible combinations ofembroidery parameters that determine the choices of personalizationembroidery available by the kiosk.

In embodiments, a kiosk 100 may include a single window 102, for exampleas shown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6, in embodiments a jig 302 may bemoved within the window 102 in the loading configuration so that a usercan load an un-personalized article, and unload a personalized articleat the same window. In embodiments, a kiosk 100 may have two windows102, as shown in FIG. 7. As shown, in embodiments, a jig 302 may bemoved within a receiving window 102-1 in the loading configuration sothat a user can load an un-personalized article, the article may then bepersonalized within the kiosk, and the jig 302 may be transferred to adelivery window 102-2 so that the user can unload a personalized articleat a different window. Multiple windows may provide the advantage ofmultiple personalizations being performed simultaneously. As notedabove, a conveying system may include vehicles, for example tracklessvehicles. In some embodiments, a conveying system may include verticalelevators for transferring vehicles between different levels ofvertically stacked system components. The trackless vehicles may beself-powered, controlled wirelessly by the control system, and/orself-controlled with no input from the control system. FIG. 8 shows anembodiment of a personalization kiosk including self-powered vehicles802. The self-powered vehicles may be line following vehicles, or mayhave other sensors used for navigation and position detection. Theself-powered vehicles may include scanning capability to read bar codeor quick response (QR) code that provides at least part of theinstructions directing the self-powered vehicle's operations. Theself-powered vehicles may include a jig or platen for receiving anarticle to be personalized. In embodiments, the vehicles transferarticles to system components of personalization systems, for exampleembroidery systems or DTG systems, as discussed above.

A shown in FIG. 8, the vehicles 802 may charge in a charging area 804.In response to receiving a personalization order, the control system mayinstruct a vehicle 802 to move to a window 102 of a kiosk 100. At thewindow 102, a user may place an item, for example a T-shirt, onto aplaten or jig coupled to the vehicle 802. Alternatively, in embodiments,the conveying system may, for example a robotic arm, may load the platenor jig. In embodiments, a T-shirt may be placed onto the platen using amoving roller that unrolls the T-shirt onto the DTG platen. Inembodiments, the T-shirt is dressed over the platen and the platen maybe equipped with tubes or channels that direct forced air to the T-shirthem or neckline to open the T-shirt and help in sliding the T-shirt ontothe platen. In embodiments, the use of the directed air tubes andchannels allow for the article to be embellished to slip onto the platenunder the force of gravity and without requiring substantial additionalforces. In embodiments, the air tubes and channels open up the T-shirtand create an air cushion that provides a fluid bearing between theT-shirt layer and the platen, providing for an easier dressing of theplaten with the T-shirt.

After loading, the control system may then instruct the vehicle, or aplurality of vehicles, to transfer the T-shirt to a sequence of systemcomponents for personalization. For example as shown, the vehicle 802may transfer the T-shirt to a pretreatment system 218, a DTG printer220, and a dryer 222. In embodiments, the vehicles 802 may leave anarticle within a system component during processing and return after theprocessing is complete. For example, the platen carrying the T-shirt maybe moved to the pretreatment system by the vehicle. In embodiments, eachDTG processing stage is enclosed in a chamber that is sealed prior tothe DTG processing commencement. In embodiments, one or more DTGprocessing chamber may be operable to be fully sealed and any chemicals,vapors, odors or fumes may be extracted through filters and/or vents,from the chamber, during or at the end of each process, but in all casesprior to unsealing the chamber to allow for the insertion or retrievalof the article carrying platen. The vehicle parking the platen in placeand moving out of the processing chamber prior to the commencement ofthe DTG processing step may be beneficial to protect the vehicle frombeing exposed to problematic chemicals.

In embodiments, the vehicle may also be used with embroidery systems.After a personalization is complete, the control system may cause thevehicle 802 carrying the personalized article to a window 102 for a userto remove from the vehicle 802. In embodiments, after personalizationand prior to customer pickup, the conveying system may further processthe article. For example, the conveying system may remove the T-shirtfrom the jig or platen and fold and/or package the T-shirt.

FIGS. 9A-9D shows a robotic arm 902 that a control system may actuate inorder to load a vehicle 802 with an article, for example a T-shirt. Asshown in FIG. 9A, a T-shirt 904 corresponding to the personalizationorder may be retrieved from an inventory of different T-shirts ofdifferent sizes and/or styles/colors. The robotic arm 902 includesjoints 906 allow a plurality of degrees of freedom, and soft grippers908 for grasping articles.

As shown in FIG. 9C, in embodiments, the robotic arm may 902 be used tograb the T-shirt 904 and either place it on the platen 910, or pull itonto a platen 910. In embodiments, the robotic arm 902 is equipped withgrippers 908 that are operational to grab each T-shirt 904 individuallyand place the T-shirt on the platen. In embodiments, the robotic armgrippers may be soft grippers that may include an outer skin made ofrubber or similar material. In some embodiments, the grippers fingers orclaws may open and close via electromechanical motors, or pneumaticmotors. In embodiments, the gripper fingers may include surface featuresthat enhance the ability for the grippers to grab the T-shirt.

In embodiments, the robotic arm 902 may include a hoop frame gripper 912operable to grab an upper hooping plate 914 and place the hooping frameon a lower hoop plate 916 for embroidery operations or a platen for DTGprinting operations, as shown in FIG. 9C. In embodiments, the hoop framegripper may be operable to use magnetic force to grab onto or releasethe hoop upper plate.

As shown in FIG. 9D, in embodiments, the robotic arm may rotate 180degrees or 360 degrees about its axis. In embodiments, one end of a twoended robotic arm may include soft grippers operable to grab T-shirtsand the other end of the robotic arm may include a gripper operable tograb and place a top hooping plate onto a bottom hooping plate forembroidery processing or directly onto a platen for DTG printing. Insome embodiments, the top hopping plate gripper is an electromagneticgripper.

Pretreatment

In embodiments, the pretreatment system of a DTG system may applypretreatment solution to an entire side of an article to be DTG printedon or may only apply pretreatment solution to a portion to be printed onaccording to the personalization order. For example, if apersonalization order indicated the printing area to be a 4″×4″ area onthe left front breast of a T-shirt, the pretreatment solution is onlyapplied to that area, instead of a larger portion of the shirt, forexample the entire front portion, or an area spanning the entire widthof the shirt.

FIGS. 10A-10B show an embodiment of a pretreatment system 1000. Asshown, the pretreatment system 1000 includes a controller 1002 (whichmay be part of the control system of the kiosk), a pretreatment solutionreservoir 1004, and a plurality of dispensing heads 1006. The dispensingheads 1006 are connected to the pretreatment solution reservoir 1004with lines 1008. The pretreatment system 1000 further includes aplurality of actuators 1010 connected to each line. The actuators 1010may be pumps and/or valves connected to the controller 1002. Thecontroller 1002 may selectively actuate the actuators 1010 in order todispense pretreatment solution from any combination of one or moredispensing heads 1006.

As shown, the dispensing heads 1006 may be arranged in a line, which maybe considered the X-direction. In embodiments, the pretreatment system1000 may include any number of dispensing heads 1006 and correspondingactuators 1010.

The pretreatment system 1000 may further comprise a platen 1012, whichmay also be part of a conveying system as discussed above. The platen1012 may be movable relative to the dispensing heads 1006 in aY-direction, perpendicular to the X-direction, for example with a track1014 and cog wheels 1016. With the selective dispensing in theX-direction and relative movement in the Y-direction, the control systemmay cause pretreatment solution to be selectively applied to any portionof an article on the platen 1012, while leaving any portion of thearticle untreated. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, in an assembly ofeight dispensing heads 1006, the first two may be turned off by thecontrol system, the next three turned on, and the next two turned off.The controller may cause dispensing as the platen is moved in theY-direction resulting in a rectangular sub-portion of the article beingpretreated. In embodiments, any pattern and shape of one or morepretreatment areas may be applied to an article. This is beneficial inreducing the amount of pretreatment solution used, the amount of timepretreating an article, and the amount of time drying the article beforeand/or after DTG printing.

In embodiments, the dispensing heads may be located less than 20 mm fromthe article surface, and may be between 3 mm and 10 mm, as shown inFIGS. 10B-10C in order to precisely control the area in both the X and Ydirections that are pretreated. In embodiments, each dispensing head mayinclude one or more slots for dispensing the PT solution in a uniformand consistent manner. In embodiments, the PT solution dispensing headsmay comprise multiple fine holes to spray the PT solution in a uniformand consistent way over the desired area. In embodiments, each PTsolution dispensing head may be fed by one or more tubes or hoses thatcarry the PT solution to the PT solution dispensing head. Inembodiments, the flow in each feeding tube or hose may be controlledindependently through a solenoid valve, pneumatic valve, or other means.In embodiments, all PT solution dispensing heads are controlled througha single manifold that controls the flow of PT solution.

In embodiments, after the PT solution is dispensed, a PT solutionspreader, scraper or roller 1018 may be lowered onto or near the T-shirtfabric to spread the PT solution and allow for absorption of the PTsolution into the fabric. In embodiments, the PT solution spreader 1018may be actuated by the control system to be lowered near the fabric onlyat certain point in the operation of the PT solution dispensing head, asshown in FIGS. 10B-10D.

FIG. 13 shows a flow chart 1300 of a personalization process accordingembodiments of the disclosed technology. In embodiments, a kiosk systemmay receive an article for personalization, as shown in step 1301. Thearticle may include an item to be personalized assembled with componentsof packaging in a pre-hooped configuration. The control system of akiosk system may receive a personalization order, as shown in step 1302.Steps 1301 and 1302 may be performed in any order relative to each otherincluding simultaneously. In response to receiving the article and thepersonalization order, the control system may control the systemcomponents of the personalization systems and the conveying system sothat the article is personalized without human intervention once withinthe housing. For example as shown in step 1303, the conveying system maytransfer the article to an embroidery system and the article may beembroidered according to the personalization order. Further, as shown instep 1304, the conveying system may transfer the article to a DTG systemand the article may receive DTG printing according to thepersonalization order. Steps 1303 and 1304 may be performed in eitherorder relative to each other, or may be omitted based on thepersonalization order. Once an article is personalized according to thepersonalization order, the article may be transferred to a user, asshown in step 1305, and discussed above.

While the above examples pertained to kiosk for personalization of anarticle including embroidering and DTG, the same systems and methods maybe used to personalize an article with other techniques, such as, butnot limited to a combination of one or more of dye sublimation, heattransfer printing processes, acid washing, and laser etching.

The technology has now been described in detail for the purposes ofclarity and understanding. However, those skilled in the art willappreciate that certain changes and modifications may be practicedwithin the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A kiosk system for personalizing an article,wherein the article comprises an item to be personalized assembled withcomponents of packaging in a pre-hooped configuration, the systemcomprising: a housing; a personalization system within the housingcomprising a plurality of system components configured for personalizingthe article; a conveying system within the housing and configured totransfer the article in the pre-hooped configuration between the systemcomponents; and a control system configured to receive a personalizationorder and in response control the system components of thepersonalization system and the conveying system so that the article ispersonalized without human intervention once within the housing, whereinthe conveying system comprises a plurality of trackless vehicles,wherein the trackless vehicles are self-powered, wherein the controlsystem is configured to wirelessly control the trackless vehicles, andwherein the control system is configured to instruct the tracklessvehicles to transfer the article between the plurality of systemcomponents.
 2. The kiosk system of claim 1, wherein the housingcomprises a window for receiving the article prior to personalization.3. The kiosk system of claim 1, wherein the housing defines a footprintof less than 50 square feet.
 4. The kiosk system of claim 1, wherein thepersonalization system comprises at least one of an embroidery system ora direct to garment printing system (DTG system).
 5. The kiosk system ofclaim 4, wherein the personalization system comprises both theembroidery system and the DTG system.
 6. The kiosk system of claim 4,wherein the embroidery system comprises: an embroidery machineconfigured to embroider the article in the pre-hooped configurationbased on the personalization order.
 7. The kiosk system of claim 1,wherein the conveying system further comprises one or more of: a roboticarm, a conveyor belt, a tracked vehicle, a jig, and a platen.
 8. Thekiosk system of claim 4, wherein the DTG system comprises: apretreatment system configured to apply pretreatment solution to thearticle; and a direct to garment printer configured to print apersonalization onto the article based on the personalization order,wherein the conveying system is configured to transfer the article withthe pretreatment solution applied from the pretreatment system to thedirect to garment printer.
 9. The kiosk system of claim 8, wherein theDTG system further comprises: a drying system configured to dry thearticle, wherein the conveying system is configured to transfer thearticle from the pretreatment system or the direct to garment printer tothe drying system.
 10. The kiosk system of claim 8, wherein thepretreatment system is configured to apply the pretreatment solution toa sub-portion of the article based on a personalization size andlocation indicated in the personalization order.
 11. A kiosk system forpersonalizing an article, wherein the article comprises an item to bepersonalized assembled with components of packaging in a pre-hoopedconfiguration, the system comprising: a housing; a personalizationsystem within the housing comprising a plurality of system componentsconfigured for personalizing the article; a conveying system within thehousing and configured to transfer the article in the pre-hoopedconfiguration between the system components; and a control systemconfigured to receive a personalization order and in response controlthe system components of the personalization system and the conveyingsystem so that the article is personalized without human interventiononce within the housing, wherein the personalization system comprises atleast one of an embroidery system or a direct to garment printing system(DTG system), wherein the DTG system comprises: a pretreatment systemconfigured to apply pretreatment solution to the article; and a directto garment printer configured to print a personalization onto thearticle based on the personalization order, wherein the conveying systemis configured to transfer the article with the pretreatment solutionapplied from the pretreatment system to the direct to garment printer,wherein the pretreatment system is configured to apply the pretreatmentsolution to a sub-portion of the article based on a personalization sizeand location indicated in the personalization order, wherein thepretreatment system comprises a plurality of dispensing heads eachconfigured to dispense the pretreatment solution, wherein the pluralityof dispensing heads are arranged along a first direction, wherein thecontrol system is configured to move the article relative to theplurality of dispensing heads in a second direction perpendicular to thefirst direction, and wherein the control system is configured to causedispensing of the pretreatment solution from any combination of one ormore of the plurality of dispensing heads while causing the conveyingsystem to move the article relative to the plurality of dispensing headsin order to apply the pretreatment solution to the sub-portion of thearticle based on the personalization order.
 12. The kiosk system ofclaim 11, wherein the plurality of dispensing heads are configured todispense the pretreatment solution less than 10 mm from the article. 13.The kiosk system of claim 12, wherein the pretreatment system furthercomprises a scraper coupled to the plurality of dispensing heads andconfigured to be actuated by the control system to contact the articleand spread the applied pretreatment solution.